using busted tires as patches
#1
commu*ist spy
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using busted tires as patches
messed up title; when I say tires I mean tubes
I got a whole bunch of busted tires that I'm not going to use. would it work if I cut them up, roughen them with sandpaper, and glue them on my tube leaks?
I got a whole bunch of busted tires that I'm not going to use. would it work if I cut them up, roughen them with sandpaper, and glue them on my tube leaks?
Last edited by spectastic; 08-13-12 at 05:56 PM.
#3
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That's what we used to do before the fancy pre-cut, pre-glued patches became popular.
#5
commu*ist spy
Thread Starter
so it's not as good as the patches? I was thinking since the tube piece would conform with the tire and stretch with the tire, it would make them better patches. It's not hat I can't afford real patches. I just thought maybe the used tires would be better
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I don't trust patched tubes.
I think tubes are pretty cheap so I only patch as a last resort to get me home.
I also don't live in goat head thorn country and rarely flat so YMMV.
I think tubes are pretty cheap so I only patch as a last resort to get me home.
I also don't live in goat head thorn country and rarely flat so YMMV.
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I've tried it to, it's really worth the piece of mind to use a quality patch or new tube instead. I use REMA patches, they're really hard to pull off the tire once they are on. The same can't be said of using old tubes cut into patches. I just patched four spare tubes that I had hanging around and the REMA patches really can be beat.
#9
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The problem is that patches aren't just a bit of rubber that you glue onto the tube. They are bits of rubber that have been treated with some rather complex chemistry that react to form new compounds that themselves are rather complex chemistry. The 'glue' you use isn't just rubber cement...or at least it shouldn't be. Rema glue contains a promoter that reacts with the treatment on the patch to form a bond that is different from a simple adhesive bond (which isn't all that simple either). The Rema vulcanizing agent/patch system forms molecular bonds which so that the patch becomes part of the tube. They are nearly impossible to remove because they are part of the tube when properly installed.
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
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Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#10
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Patches Are Okay
I think that patched tubes are fine for all types of use, even high pressure. I try to reuse tubes for as long as practical.
I recently had an ISO 590 tube (older thick Japanese one) that I had to patch. Superior to a replacement tube from China, IMO.
PG
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As kid almost 50 years ago my dad showed me how to patch a tube. Everything came in a cardboard can and the lid had a scuff thing built into the lid inside was the patches and the glue a couple pieces of sand paper and matches. The matches and sand paper I think dad added. The process was sand up the tube around the hole get the patch ready and put the glue on the tube and light it. Watch the tube to get kind of shiny black blow it out and slap on the patch, as it cooled use the outside of the can as a roller. One demo and dad said try and not burn the shed down, after all I was 8 years old and why would I burn the shed down. Part way thru the summer we ran out of patches and reverted to making our own from old tubes and they worked ok. Keep in mind tubes were at least twice as thick back then and getting more patches was both cost and distance.
I wouldn’t recommend the above method today but it did work.
I’m almost in the buy a new tube camp now. As I carry a spare and patch them at home unless it’s an emergency.
I wouldn’t recommend the above method today but it did work.
I’m almost in the buy a new tube camp now. As I carry a spare and patch them at home unless it’s an emergency.